A fourth period comeback by the SUNY Oneonta women's basketball team came up short today, as the Red Dragons fell 61-60 to Chapman University.  After a three-pointer by Jaryn Fajardo to open the fourth, Oneonta (5-6) trailed by 11 points.
 
Led by a balanced team effort, the Red Dragons clawed their way back to tie the score at 56 apiece on a layup by freshman Leanne Corso (Commack/Commack) with 3:06 remaining.  Classmate Alexa Amalbert (Nanuet/Nanuet) then converted a pair of free throws to give Oneonta its first lead since a 2-0 lead to start the game.
 
The two squads exchanged baskets setting up last second heroics.
 
After a full timeout, senior Cara Adams (Attleboro, MA/Bishop Feehan) made a layup with four seconds left to put Oneonta ahead 60-58.  On the ensuing possession, Megan Charles was fouled on a three-point shot with 0.6 on the clock, which gave her three free throws.  She made all three to lift her team to the victory.
 
After trailing 16-14 after the first period, Chapman broke the game open in the second period and took a 37-23 lead into the intermission.  Oneonta battled back in the third period and a three-pointer from sophomore Teresa Anken (Rome/Rome Free Academy) brought the Red Dragons to within eight points entering the final period.
 
Adams led Oneonta with 15 points followed by junior Samantha Lisikatos (Cold Spring/Haldane) who added 13 points.  Lisikatos was a perfect 8-for-8 at the free throw line in the game.  Corso finished with a game high 14 rebounds to go with her eight points.
 
Last night, Oneonta played No. 2 ranked Amherst College at Chapman and was defeated 97-31.  Amalbert was the top scorer for Oneonta with 10 points.
 
Oneonta will play its first game of 2017 at Oswego next Friday night, Jan. 6 beginning at 7:30pm.